Spanish Liga expects late season start due to player strike

The Spanish Liga season is facing a delayed start due to player payment issues.

The Spanish professional footballers' union (AFE) announced last week that players from the top two divisions would go on strike for the opening two weeks of the 2011/12 season unless an agreement with the Liga de Futbol Profesional (LFP) was reached over a new collective bargaining agreement.

The AFE want a guaranteed fund to protect players' wages in the event of their clubs being declared insolvent.

The AFE and LFP met in Madrid on Wednesday morning but no agreement was reached and the two parties will meet again on Friday.

LFP president Jose Luis Astiazaran was quoted as saying in AS: "There is no agreement. The AFE maintain the strike for this weekend. We will meet again on Friday and, if it is necessary throughout the weekend."